C.A.K.E

“What are we going to do?” Arden asks.

Eli rests his hands on the edge of the vanity, hanging his head over the sink. He curls his fingers into fists so tight, that his knuckles begin to glow a pearly white.

He shakes his head, then slams his fists against the quartz vanity. Arden flinches at the sound of his hands hitting the slab of stone. Eli lifts his head and stares at the mirror. His eyes are hooded marbles of ice.

Arden places her hand on Elliott's shoulder, keeping her focus on the reflection of the distant man in the mirror. He doesn't acknowledge her touch. The growing tension in his jaw drains the anger from her, making room for another emotion.

“Eli?”

Elliott rushes past her, out the bathroom. He grabs his keys and heads for the front door.

Arden follows him, pleading for him to talk to her. Still no answer. He steps onto the elevator with a scowl painted on his comforting features.

“Elliott, wait.” She reaches for his hand. But he slips out her grip. So she steps onto the elevator with him.

She asks where he's going. Again, he stares straight ahead. He's moving like a robot on autopilot. A shutdown like this doesn't happen often. But when it does, he's colder than an Alaskan winter. Jamming the stop button with her index finger, she brings the elevator to a halt.

“I understand that you're upset.” Arden steps in front of him and lifts his chin. “But you'd better talk to me.”

“You know where I'm going, Arden.” He places his hands at her waist and moves her aside. Then he starts the elevator on its way again.

She does know where he's going. But just as he reminded her not too long ago, that woman isn't worth the jail time.

“I want to throttle her just as much as you do. But we're not going to be much help to Rowan and Teagan if we're both behind bars.”

Elliott stares back at her like he's trying to process what she just said. The elevator stops on the ground floor. Its doors open, revealing the underground parking garage that's accessible only to residents. He pauses on the threshold, leaning his back against the pocket where the elevator doors disappeared.

“You're right.” He nods at her. “You should go back upstairs.”

He shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans and starts a very determined walk toward his car. Arden chases after him. Her eyes travel down to his bare feet. Their reddened state, and his apparent oblivion to the cold concrete floor, quickens her own feet.

“Elliott,” she screams after him. Her voice hits the bare concrete walls, before bouncing back to her ears.

He keeps walking, even seeming to speed up into more of a trot. He unlocks his sedan and reaches for the door handle. Arden places herself between him and the car, pushing the driver's side door closed again with her back.

A silent standoff ensues. His eyes stare down into hers, neither breaking the trance. Another minute or so passes, before he attempts to move her aside. He places a hand on her waist, exerting a gentle pressure against her weight. She doesn't budge.

He sighs and scratches at the forming stubble along his jawline.

“Arden, please. Get out of my way.”

“No.” She shakes her head. “I'm not going to let you do something stupid.”

“She has been using drugs around our kids. Letting that anorexic piece of shit model shoot up in the same house where our kids sleep.” His voice drops to a darker tone, one that Ardi doesn't recognize. “Nothing is more stupid than that.”

She takes a breath. “No disagreement here.”

“Then, please . . . move,” he says through gritted teeth. Tears pool on the brims of his eyes, making them glisten like a moonlit lake.

“No, Elliott.”

Arden places a hand on either side of his face. The tears in his eyes win the battle against the rims of his eyes. Hot, salty rivers begin to paint his face, marking her hands as well. She uses her thumbs to wipe away his heated tears.

Arden's mobile begins to ring, making them both flinch. The device announces her brother's name, then begins playing the Ghostbusters theme song. She lets it ring, ultimately sending her sibling to voicemail.

She relaxes a bit as she watches the hint of a smile spreading across Eli's lips. He folds his hands around hers.

“Does he know that's your ringtone for him?”

She shakes her head, and they both ease into a small laugh. As it fades into a shared sigh, Arden leans up and places her arms around his neck. He pulls her closer, letting his arms settle at her waist.

Arden tilts her head and kisses Elliott. The softness of her lips melds into him, imparting a calm as easy as a low country breeze. She pulls back and rests her forehead against his.

“She's not going to change us, Eli,” she whispers, staring up at him. “Ro and Tea deserve better than that.”

He nods. She feels his hand tighten into a fist against her back. As he stares off in the direction of the other parked cars that surround them, she smooths her hands down his shoulders over and over.

After a few seconds, he turns back to her. His eyes have returned to their usual vibrant blue. The tension in his muscles has relaxed. She breathes. He's back.

He hugs her close, resting his head in the crook of her neck. Then he pulls back and kisses her forehead. “Let's go.”

Eli taps the lock button on his car's key fob and intertwines his fingers with Arden's. The couple takes the elevator up to the lobby. They find Adam standing at the concierge desk about to place another call to his sister.

“You two suddenly forget how to answer your phones?” Adam asks, coming towards them.

“Sorry.” Eli glances at Arden. “We were in the middle of something.”

“Oh God, I know what that means.” Adam makes a face.

“We weren't ...” Arden tries to explain. But Adam puts his hands to his ears and begins humming. She tries to pull one of his hands away from his head. He resists, accenting his humming with defiant grunts. “Oh grow up, Adam.”

He shakes his head and starts for the door. “You two are freaks. I'll be in the car.”

She rolls her eyes at her brother's back, as he exits the building. Sometimes, it astounds her that he's the older child. No wonder her parents tried a second time.

“You sure he's older than you?”

“I'm not even sure we're related. I think he followed my mother home from the grocery store one day.”

“That must be it.” Eli chuckles and takes her hand again. The smile fades from his face, while he plays with her fingers.

“You okay?” She takes his other hand.

“Yeah.” He nods, staring down at their feet. “Think I might take the kids to see my parents for a little while this afternoon.”

“Sounds good.” She pushes a thick lock of honeyed curls away from his face. “Then maybe we could all meet at Dad's place for dinner tonight.”

“Good,” he whispers, still transfixed by the floor.

“Hey, we'll figure this out.” She lifts his head and locks eyes with him. “With your parents and my father behind us, all of Alabama will burn before Melinda gets anywhere near our children again.”

“I know.” He pulls her in close and kisses the crown of her head. “See you tonight.”

Eli agrees to meet her at the Mitchell estate with the twins and his parents. They share another quick kiss and whisper I love you, before parting ways. Arden glances over her shoulder, as she makes her way out to Adam. Elliott waves at her, before stepping onto the elevator. Sighing, she steps through the lobby's revolving door.

“Everything okay?” Adam opens the car door for her.

“It's fine. Why?”

“Well, you're sporting the I don't give a fuck hair bun. Eli looks like he could spar with Satan right about now and win.” He smirks at her. “Wanna try lying to me again, Elmer?”

She purses her lips and looks away from him. “I'll tell you in the car.”

Adam helps her into his Porsche Cayenne and jogs around to the driver's side. While he tries his best to navigate the downtown streets, she relates the night's insanity to him. He listens without much interruption, throwing in a whispered remark here and there.

“You call the police?”

“No.”

“And why not?”

“I don't want to have their mother arrested.” She stares out the window at the silent structures passing by in a blur of stone and mortar. “We'll handle this as quietly as possible.”

“Melinda doesn't deserve your discretion.”

“But Ro and Tea do. This arrangement has been hard enough on them. The last thing they need is to find a TMZ article about their absentee mother's drug abuse.” She chews the inside of her cheek, then shakes her head. “I will not make them a headline.”

Adam sighs and then brings the car to a stop behind Arden's Audi S7.

“I swear, little sis. You some kind of saint. Any other woman would have taken a razor blade to Melinda's crazy ass a long time ago.”

me.” She scoffs. “I've murdered her in my

over her to grab the flashlight and his semi-automatic

her brother checks the front and back seats of the sedan. He starts the vehicle's

he's standing holding open the door of the sedan for her. Arden gives him a hug, and a

“Thank you.”

nothing. You

he takes one more look in the backseat before he lets

side-view mirror. She waits for Adam to flash his headlights, then they both pull away from the curb. They wave to each other at a stoplight, going their separate

of the building is deserted. Joe and Nadia are both late ...again. She sighs and parks the car in her designated space in the far corner of the lot. Instead of going inside to begin her usual hectic day,

at the time illuminated on the center console. It's 4:30 in the morning. Her father is often up by five every

Warren sees of the inside of an office is the monthly board meeting at the phone company. He should be out of bed and making his customary cup of coffee in less

keeping careful watch of her speedometer. Forty miles later, she's coasting up the tree-lined

appears in the doorway of the three-story house. Before Arden can reach for the handle,

dark hair is in the same effortless fishtail braid

...Is something wrong?” The older woman's brow

her everything's okay.

been with the family since Arden was six years old. So she can tell when one of the Mitchell children is

Arden squeezes Ivana's hands. “I just wanted to talk

sun was fully awake?” The strength

often play pranks on her just so she would yell at them in Russian. Hearing

“I guess not.”

tell me.” Ivana sighs. “Your father's

Ivana a quick kiss on the cheek and jogs up the porch steps into the house. She makes her way

A booming voice greets Arden, as she steps into the large

she walks over to his desk. He stands and pulls her into a hug. She allows herself

says, her voice muffled by his

came

“I need some advice.”

“About Melinda?”

“How did you...?”

“Adam called me.”

should have known.”

your brother.” Warren leads her over to the quilted leather sofa and sits down with her.

Eli to file for

disagree with you if Ro and Tea were younger. But a legal

takes a deep breath. “So what do we do?”

have themselves emancipated.” Warren continues his point before Arden has a chance to become alarmed. “That way no one, namely Melinda, has a say in where they choose to

in the eyes of the law.” Ardi looks down at her hands. “They

way. Children have to grow up. Doesn't mean we have

her head on his shoulder. “Where did you even come

just came to me. Ever since then, you've been my little tater tot.” He scratches his head and smirks. “I wish there was some grand story behind it. But

good enough for me.” She smiles at him.

in Arden's gut

gives her shoulder a gentle rub. “Harrison will have the papers drawn up by the end of business

him change the subject. They spend another hour or so discussing simpler matters, like her

snubbing one of the most powerful women in Birmingham. Not to mention, making things more difficult at home for her Uncle Sebastian. Hillary is impossible enough without feeling slighted. So Arden will suck it up for the sake of her mother's brother, and the sake of anyone else

Phoenix, life hasn't left them much opportunity to see each other. He's like the younger brother who she never wished she had. But much like with Adam, she wouldn't trade her cousin for all the diamonds and pearls

bringing his

if she's going to have Hillary Nolan for a mother-in-law.” Arden rolls her eyes and

knee, smothering a laugh. “Be nice,

was the censored

to get to work young lady. A bakery doesn't run

and pulls Arden to her feet. They walk arm in arm toward the front of the house. As she's stepping out the front door, Ardi tells her father she'll see him for dinner. His face seems to

forehead. “Drive safe,

She stands on her tiptoes

of the car's voice command and requests that it play an old Snoop Dogg track. Turning up the volume, she hits the interstate doing

the bakery. It's almost seven. She's lost some valuable prep time. But her mood brightens a bit when she spots her employees' vehicles.

greets the gentleman and signs for the delivery. She unlocks the back entrance of the bakery, propping the door open for the man. As package after package is unloaded from the truck and into her office, she searches her brain's inventory for any recent business purchases she might have made. None come to

address on any of them. A few of them are even gift wrapped in

smaller boxes catches her eye. The wrapping looks familiar. If she remembers correctly, Swarovski uses this same packaging. She opens it to find a pair of crystal earrings. A coy smile

and notices that there are several messages waiting for her. Arden grabs a pen and notepad, then puts the phone on

seeking Arden's services for her wedding cake. Already inspired by the woman's theme and colors, she makes a quick sketch.

a symphony of baritone sounds and syllables kisses her ears. Arden recognizes

herself against the wall. It's him. The man who has invaded her

the time and date received of the next one in the lineup. Again,

the entire

wink back at her as if they knew all along. These weren't gifts

breathe all of a sudden, she flees her office and runs smack into Joseph. The

to help him retrieve the fallen trays. “I have been running

alone, it's Nadia. Joe might crack an egg every once in a while. But he won't do the time-consuming baking required to keep this business running. Plus, he

morning.” She smirks at him. “That ain't no easy task. You know how much

her, then continues

behind him. “Ain't enough penicillin

coiffed hair with one hand and stacks the cookie sheets on their designated shelf. Then he gives Arden a

my father this morning.” Arden

dawn.” He folds his arms across his chest and raises

is in town.” Arden lets the words rush out

a stool and holds it in place for

laughs. “Joe, I haven't even told

he raids his

also know I

name is enough to make a priest hit the bottle.

hands Arden a shot of vodka. She refuses to touch

she says, with a firm nod

for us both.” He downs the shot and pours himself another. Once he's properly hydrated, he pulls

crosses his legs towards her and props his elbow on top of them. He rests his head on one hand, then uses the other

her issues at work is the best thing to do. But Joseph has

take a backseat, and she begins relaying the last twenty-four hours. She details everything from the twins' escape to Melinda's

top of that, her little boyfriend used our bathroom to shoot up.” Arden shakes her head and sighs. “I

one ratchet bitch from his past who makes everybody

is definitely Eli's ratchet bitch.”

you gon'

on the coffee cake, and the dough for the croissants.” Arden finds her apron and slips it over her head. Before heading

you sign my checks. When the rent is

rolls her eyes and laughs. “Joe,

cafe. She joins Arden in the heat of the kitchen

to make their usual breakfast pastries and six different types of bread. They even get the bakery's desserts and lunch items prepared on time. Arden is putting the

doors that divide the kitchen from the dining

might be able to take a breath. The rush

spinning the revolving cake stand to study her work. “Never

for

Furrowing her brow, she pipes another buttercream rose for the top

I'm

of the kitchen, leaving Arden to brood.

she intends to say to Casper when she feels someone's fingers tracing a trail up her arm. Her breath catches

her ear, and his hand on her waist. Then he whispers to

“Good morning, love.”

scent of his cologne, have her ready to say yes to a lot of things that she shouldn't even be considering. Refusing to face him, she attempts to calm

and tries again.

her footing. A pair of hands reach out to save her from taking a nosedive onto the floor. Now cradled in his arms, she's forced to look him in the eyes.

smiles at her, bringing her body upright once again.

her clothes. “What are you

tucks his hands into

answers, near breathless.

his lips. He glances down at his shoes, and then back up at her.

sent half of the Swarovski fall collection over here.” Arden

hand and kisses it. “I'll return